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In a surprising foray into aviation, Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook designed Aquila, a high-altitude solar drone with the mission of bringing internet to remote regions, challenging aerospace giants.
In a surprising turn of events for the aerospace industry, Facebook, led by Mark Zuckerberg, once ventured into developing an experimental plane called Aquila. This ambitious project was not only a technological leap, but an attempt to connect more than a billion people around the world to the internet.
Launched in 2014, when Facebook was at the height of its power, the company acquired a team of engineers from Ascenta, a pioneering company in solar drones. The Ascenta team, already known for its contribution to the development of the Zephyr, a solar plane lightweight capable of flying at altitudes exceeding 75.000 feet, has become part of Facebook's Connectivity Lab. Zuckerberg envisioned creating a fleet of drones that could transmit internet signals powerful for regions of the world without significant internet coverage.
About Aquila
The Aquila, with a wingspan comparable to a Boeing 737, was a solar-powered drone with the ability to fly for months, or even years, at an altitude where clouds and bad weather are not concerns. This high-altitude, long-endurance drone (HALE) was considered an option more viable than satellites or cell towers, especially in rural areas.
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The first flight of the Aquila prototype took place in 2016 in Yuma, Arizona. Despite a bumpy landing, the flight was considered a success, proving the aircraft's potential. However, growing competition in the high-altitude drone market, with players including Airbus and Lockheed Martin, has led Facebook to reevaluate its priorities.
In an unexpected move, the Aquila project was discontinued, the Facebook decided to focus on developing its connectivity technology in partnership with Airbus, taking advantage of the advances achieved with Aquila, such as millimeter wave technology, flight control computers and high density batteries.
While Aquila didn't reach its ultimate goal, Facebook's journey into field of aviation experimental highlighted the growing intersection between information technology and aerospace. The Aquila project remains a fascinating example of how boundaries between different industries can be crossed in pursuit of innovation and global connectivity.
